Will O' Hara Girls three-peat? Individual title is up for grabs.
With Wednesday 9/20 as the opening of the 2006 Philadelphia Catholic League Cross Country season, here is a preview of the upcoming season.
O'Hara has a tight pack this year. Can Prendie and others challenge? 
The Cardinal O' Hara Girls team has lost three of their top seven runners from last year's championship team to graduation. The question is do they have the depth and who is going to fill in those positions to retain the team title? As that question will unfold during the season, there are those teams lurking to lay claim to the title.
The Lions return three of their top four runners from last season in juniors Beth Kelly, Caroline Grant and Katie McShay. All three placed in the top six at last years championship. This gives the team front loaded talent but do they have the enough depth as they have had in previous seasons? Early season meets this year indicate they do as juniors Mary Rose Gawbill and newcomer Collen Roe, rising sophmore star Emily Scanlon who placed seventh at Briarwood and freshman newcomers, Samantha Lieb and Bridget McDermott will fill that role.
Not to be taken lightly is Archbishop Prendergast who return their top four runners from last years championship. The Pandas are led by the Boland (Colleen and Kathleen ) twins who are now seniors and are coming off a very strong track season. Juniors Erica Matticola, Teresa Hamill, and Amiee DiLucido along with sophomore Felicia Scaramuzzi give their team the talent and depth to "have a shot" at O'Hara.
Archbishop Carroll will be strong with the addition of freshman sensation Amanda Bascelli who claimed the Briarwood Individual title last week. Also looking strong at Briarwood was senior Cooie Rettew. Three other seniors figuring to be in their top five are Amanda Cosful, Emily Paffett and Rochelle Yankowich. With the addition of JV individual champ, junior Caitlyn Storbeck (who will gave up soccer to run full time), Carroll has a nice scoring pack to compete for the title.
St. Hubert's has a nice group of runners led by their top three running under 22 at Briarwood last week. They are juniors Tracy, Lauren Kelly and Katherine Klinges. Seniors Meghan Delaney, Bridget Fitzgerald and Karen Grauber along with freshman newcomer Kayla Reilly provide the Bambies with a solid herd to contend for the title.
An up and coming young team is Archbishop Wood who is also lead by freshman standout Maura Craney followed by sophomores Kelly Young and Jackie Dougherty. Junior Julia Leporace and seniors Erica Sprenke and Caitlyn Hogan give the Vikings a team that is on the radar.
Archbishop Ryan, Kennedy-Kendrick and West Catholic were hit hard with graduation and will look to rebuild this year while Bishop McDevitt returns first team All-Catholic sophomore Katie Filemyer.
The individual title will be one of the most anticipated events.
Returning champ Colleen Boland will be challenged again by her sister Kathleen as well as the O'Hara stars Caroline Grant and Beth Kelly. The trump card though may be Carroll freshman Amanda Bascelli. With her youthful running experiences at the top level big meets, she may just be able to take this crown from a group of experienced well known runners. Only the race will tell.
Come and see for yourself what happens on Sunday, November 5th around 1pm time.